NRI's largesse for engg education of poor students

Students from the rural areas of Karnataka may soon get a chance to study engineering for free at the University Visvesvaraya College of Engineering (UVCE), coming under the Bangalore University (BU).

Bangalore T Lakshman, an NRI from Karnataka who heads BTL Education Trust for Rural Development (a philanthropic organisation), has donated $50,000 (roughly Rs 25 lakh) as endowment fund to BU.

At a press conference in the City on Thursday, Lakshman signed a memorandum of understanding with BU vice-chancellor T Rangaswamy, in the presence of the heads of various departments of the university.

“While studying at the University of Delaware in USA, I started with a scholarship of $20,000. I wish to impart the same kind of facility to those who are not so fortunate,” said Lakshman. He currently resides in Delaware.

The amount will be used for providing scholarships to 10 students from rural and backward districts of the State in UVCE on a merit-cum-need basis.

Candidates will be selected in September-October every year and a committee consisting of the Vice-Chancellor, Registrar, Principal of UVCE, a nominee by the BTL Trust from the alumni association of BU and a nominee by the donor will be entrusted with the responsibility of selecting the students.

The sum of $ 50,000 will be increased to $1,00,000 soon, Lakshman said.